Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 November 2011
02 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Looked-after Children
As Kevin Stewart did, I declare an interest as a councillor, but with Renfrewshire Council. As with other issues that we have discussed, I never really thought about looked-after children before I became a councillor and had to deal with cases. One thing that has become clear is the tremendous work of people in social work departments across the country. They deal with difficult situations and have a difficult job and they work with families to get the best for them.
Anne McTaggart was right to say that we should support those who look after the children. It is hard enough to be a parent at the best of times without having to be the parent of a child with a challenging background. One point that has come out for me in the past few years is how important it is to take on the responsible role as a corporate parent. All the children of Scotland are our children. If we do not get things right here and now, we will create another debate for us to have in future about social problems further down the line. I am extremely pleased that we have had such an open debate, in which everyone has agreed that we have to deal with the situation.
A lot of work has been done, but we can still achieve so much more. The minister is right that every single child wants stability and predictability at home. When it comes to dealing with looked-after children, that is what we must aim for.
Given my local authority background, I know that it can be extremely difficult for kinship carers to get access to funds, go through the process and get support. Nine times out of 10 in a difficult circumstance, family members will just take the children in—because that is something that families do—and they will not be aware that there is any form of support available for them.
The minister was right to say that she is quite happy to ruffle a few feathers to get this situation sorted. Her passion for the subject is clear and I believe that that same passion for change can be seen today in the chamber.
Some of the young people we are talking about have very challenging backgrounds. In Renfrewshire, the council tends not to try to put children into alternative care unless it has everything that is needed for the care and protection of that child. The number of looked-after children in the area is high due to the rates of social deprivation and drug and alcohol abuse there. Those are issues that we will have to address in order to deal with the situation.
At 31 October this year, Renfrewshire had 765 looked-after children, 321 of whom were in accommodation. It looks like it will face an on-going situation of looking for permanent families for 50 children at any given time. The problem is that it is difficult to get foster parents. No matter what local authorities do, it is difficult for them to get people involved in fostering. I agree with Kevin Stewart that the best people to sell the idea of being a foster parent are foster parents, because they can tell others what they have gained from the experience.
Members of staff in Renfrewshire Council, who are ably led by the director of service, Peter MacLeod, are motivated to succeed in this area. In the first half of this year, the council managed to get 13 children adopted into a home—a significantly higher figure than the previous year. That was because a resource was made available; the council made a decision that getting children adopted was an individual social worker’s job for that period. It is important that local authorities look to that model for the future.
The minister is quite right to work with and ask more of local authorities on this issue. Quicker intervention might be better in some cases, but the correct decisions, rather than rushed ones, have to be made.
I mentioned resource. It is not a case of just throwing money at the situation; in a lot of cases there can be better working within various local authority departments.
It is important that we get this right and that we all take our role as corporate parents seriously. Much work has been completed, but we need to achieve much, much more. We all know the social benefits to our country of getting this right. If we do not, we will create future problems—and future debates—for ourselves. All strands of government can work together to ensure that we provide every child with a secure upbringing and a chance to prosper.
15:58
Anne McTaggart was right to say that we should support those who look after the children. It is hard enough to be a parent at the best of times without having to be the parent of a child with a challenging background. One point that has come out for me in the past few years is how important it is to take on the responsible role as a corporate parent. All the children of Scotland are our children. If we do not get things right here and now, we will create another debate for us to have in future about social problems further down the line. I am extremely pleased that we have had such an open debate, in which everyone has agreed that we have to deal with the situation.
A lot of work has been done, but we can still achieve so much more. The minister is right that every single child wants stability and predictability at home. When it comes to dealing with looked-after children, that is what we must aim for.
Given my local authority background, I know that it can be extremely difficult for kinship carers to get access to funds, go through the process and get support. Nine times out of 10 in a difficult circumstance, family members will just take the children in—because that is something that families do—and they will not be aware that there is any form of support available for them.
The minister was right to say that she is quite happy to ruffle a few feathers to get this situation sorted. Her passion for the subject is clear and I believe that that same passion for change can be seen today in the chamber.
Some of the young people we are talking about have very challenging backgrounds. In Renfrewshire, the council tends not to try to put children into alternative care unless it has everything that is needed for the care and protection of that child. The number of looked-after children in the area is high due to the rates of social deprivation and drug and alcohol abuse there. Those are issues that we will have to address in order to deal with the situation.
At 31 October this year, Renfrewshire had 765 looked-after children, 321 of whom were in accommodation. It looks like it will face an on-going situation of looking for permanent families for 50 children at any given time. The problem is that it is difficult to get foster parents. No matter what local authorities do, it is difficult for them to get people involved in fostering. I agree with Kevin Stewart that the best people to sell the idea of being a foster parent are foster parents, because they can tell others what they have gained from the experience.
Members of staff in Renfrewshire Council, who are ably led by the director of service, Peter MacLeod, are motivated to succeed in this area. In the first half of this year, the council managed to get 13 children adopted into a home—a significantly higher figure than the previous year. That was because a resource was made available; the council made a decision that getting children adopted was an individual social worker’s job for that period. It is important that local authorities look to that model for the future.
The minister is quite right to work with and ask more of local authorities on this issue. Quicker intervention might be better in some cases, but the correct decisions, rather than rushed ones, have to be made.
I mentioned resource. It is not a case of just throwing money at the situation; in a lot of cases there can be better working within various local authority departments.
It is important that we get this right and that we all take our role as corporate parents seriously. Much work has been completed, but we need to achieve much, much more. We all know the social benefits to our country of getting this right. If we do not, we will create future problems—and future debates—for ourselves. All strands of government can work together to ensure that we provide every child with a secure upbringing and a chance to prosper.
15:58
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01197, in the name of Angela Constance, on reducing the time needed to find a permanent home for looked-a...
The Minister for Children and Young People (Angela Constance)
SNP
Thank you for your generosity, Presiding Officer.As I am sure we are all aware, this week is national adoption week, which aims to raise awareness of the ben...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The Parliament welcomed the steps taken by the Government to ensure that kinship carers receive the same benefits as foster carers, but that has not been imp...
Angela Constance
SNP
As Ms Grant is well aware, local authorities are best placed to make decisions about financial support for kinship carers and children at local level. That i...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
I know that the minister is aware that I adopted a daughter, so I have some knowledge of this issue. Does she agree that time still requires to be taken in p...
Angela Constance
SNP
I am sure that Mr Paterson agrees that we can achieve thorough and timely assessments. I can imagine how adoptions, which birth parents often contest in the ...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
One of the issues facing minority communities, particularly visible minority communities, is that adoptions are not taking place within those communities—chi...
Angela Constance
SNP
That is an example of the type of work that we hope is evident in the adoption and permanence plans that local authorities will have to provide to me by Apri...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the debate and the chance to discuss improving Scotland’s adoption service and the opportunities and life chances of some of Scotland’s most vulner...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
There is no greater responsibility than bringing up children—and no greater responsibility for the state than ensuring that children who, for one reason or a...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I mention to members who will take part in the open debate that we have a little bit of time in hand, so if they wish to take interventions, I will ensure th...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I begin by putting on record my admiration for the work that is done by all those people who are involved in caring for looked-after children in Scotland. Al...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member should wind up.
Stewart Maxwell
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer.Are we searching for the perfect outcome for children when the reality is that no child is brought up, even by their birth paren...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in a debate on an issue that is close to my heart, and I am encouraged by the cross-party agreement in the area.I want to ...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I hear what the member says, but I understand that the Scottish Government funds the national advice and support service for kinship carers and that consider...
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I thank the member for that helpful intervention. I completely accept that point, but when we consider the range of services that the Midlothian group and pe...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, am pleased to speak in this important debate on reducing the time needed to find a permanent home for looked-after children. As has been said, the st...
Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I could talk about this subject for hours but, in case the Presiding Officer is concerned, I assure her that I will stick to my six minutes.National adoption...
Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I add my support for Monday’s launch of national adoption week, which I am sure every member will support. I also acknowledge the foster carers, kinship care...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I refer members to my entry in the register of interests. The fact that I am a member of Aberdeen City Council will come up in my speech.When I joined Aberde...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
Last week, members discussed how we can best raise the ambition and attainment of our children and young people. It is not surprising that much of that debat...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
As Kevin Stewart did, I declare an interest as a councillor, but with Renfrewshire Council. As with other issues that we have discussed, I never really thoug...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
As other member have done, I welcome the debate and the minister’s clear commitment to changing for the better the lives of some of our children. I also ackn...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I have taken part in similar debates in previous sessions of the Parliament, and the issue does not seem to move on. Jean Urquhart mentioned that we have to ...
Jean Urquhart
SNP
I agree with that. That is the point that I had hoped to convey, so I am sorry if it did not come across.Yesterday, the Education and Culture Committee heard...
Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I, too, declare an interest. I am a councillor and for four years—until May this year—I was on Renfrewshire Council’s adoption panel.During my time on the pa...
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I declare my interest as a corporate parent, as an elected member of North Lanarkshire Council.The SNP Government has demonstrated its commitment to all of S...
Graeme Pearson (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is with trepidation and some humility that I speak in this debate. Trepidation because the subject matter is very important to us all—it is heartening to ...
Derek Mackay (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP)
SNP
The member makes some interesting points. In a spirit of consensus, Mary Fee, George Adam and others have complimented Renfrewshire Council on its leadership...